River Systems

Big South Fork

National River and Recreation Area

Kentucky & Tennessee

Big South Fork, Kentucky & Tennessee

During the 20th century, much of the Cumberland Plateau was stripped of its marketable trees and easily accessible coal. Sediments from the denuded land and acid from the mines filled the streams. Although loggers and miners are still active on the plateau, young trees now clothe most of the logged-over lands and environmental controls are reducing the impact that mining has on the rivers and streams.

Life was often hard for those who directly depended on the area's natural resources for their livelihood, and cash income was usually very limited. The U.S. Congress was aware of the needs of the area and decided to set aside a part of the Cumberland Plateau in order to provide new economic opportunities for the region through recreation. The legislation also provided for the protection, conservation, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources and maintenance of the river as a free flowing stream. To accomplish this task, two agencies of the Federal Government are working together in a partnership of service to create and manage the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, known locally as the "National Area".

Within the National Area, lush vegetation now clothes the ridges and covers sites that once were homesteads, logging camps, and mining communities. This new growth hides mine entrances and encroaches upon the coal tipples and is gradually transforming old fields into forests. Many of the old roads that crisscross the area are fading into the landscape and are now no longer passable by vehicles.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, with its many years of experience in managing river basins, determined which parcels of land were needed to maintain the integrity of the river valleys and to provide for the type of development and use authorized by the Congress. The boundaries were then established by the Congress, and the Corps of Engineers was directed to proceed with acquisition. As tracts of land are acquired, they are turned over to the National Park Service for protection and management.

The Corps of Engineers has also been busy developing plans for the construction of facilities that will be provided within the National Area. As these facilities are completed by the Corps they will be operated and maintained by the National Park Service for the use and enjoyment of the area's visitors. For its part, the National Park Service sees the Big South Fork as an area set aside so that people can actively enjoy this rugged scenic area, an area in which opportunities abound for whitewater canoeing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. Today, even though the planning and development are not complete, the staff of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area stands ready to welcome you to the beauty of the Cumberland Plateau.

The spectacular geology in our national parks provides the answers to many
questions about the Earth. The answers can be appreciated through plate tectonics,
an exciting way to understand the ongoing natural processes that sculpt our
landscape. Parks and Plates is a visual and scientific voyage of discovery!

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locator for park books and much more.